Embracing the Unknown

Life Lessons from the Tibetan Book of the Dead

By: Pema Chödrön

Narrated by: Pema Chödrön

Length: 3 hrs and 20 mins

Publisher's Summary

Life, death, and rebirth - Pema Chödrön on the Tibetan Book of the Dead

What happens when we die? One of the most treasured resources for understanding this essential question is the Tibetan Book of the Dead. With Embracing the Unknown, Pema Chödrön delves into the teachings of this extraordinary Buddhist text - not only for what it tells us about the journey of the soul beyond this life but also as a source of profound wisdom for navigating the uncertainty we face each day in “the bardo of this life”. In this landmark appearance recorded live at the Omega Institute, Pema explores the universal mystery of life, death, and rebirth, including:

• What is the bardo? How any state between an ending and a beginning gives us an unparalleled opportunity for transformation
• What is rebirth? Pema takes a deeper look at this concept and how it also occurs in our moment-to-moment experience
• Can we let go? Guidance for honoring the difficult emotions of fear, sadness, and grief with an open and curious heart
• How can we prepare? Meditation techniques and everyday practices for befriending change, groundlessness, and the unknown
• What can we really know about death? Why the teachings of the Book of the Dead are valuable no matter what you believe

“Death isn’t just something that happens at the end,” teaches Pema. “Life is continually arising, dwelling, ceasing, and arising. It’s a cycle that goes on every day, and continues to go on forever.” Featuring insightful Q&A sessions with a live audience, Embracing the Unknown invites you to explore the most daunting and liberating truth of our human experience - guided by Pema Chödrön’s hallmark blend of insight, humor, and fearless love. 

Download the accompanying reference guide.

©2019 Pema Chödrön (P)2019 Sounds True

so helpful and insightful

i listened to a couple chapters each morning before my meditation. it's helped me put life in perspective and honor the flow of life.

Not a book but good just the same

This is an audio recording of a seminar she gave, so its a bit more jumbled and conversational, but it’s good none the less.

Another insight filled book from a favorite Author

Gained a deeper understanding of Tibetan views regarding the death process and rebirth. You should get at least one Aha moment from this easy to digest format. Definitely worth rereading a few times.

gentle and sweet

pema rocks in 15 words no less la la labd3 Dee Dee dah dah da

Helped me with grief and loss

I was comforted by Tibetan Buddhist philosophy about death and dying. I appreciate that Pema Chodron is very careful not to proselytize, she teaches and says take it or leave it, whatever works for you.

Wonderful book

This book has helped me become much more comfortable with death and embracing the unknown. It is well organized, easy to follow. It both serious and light hearted. My favorite of Pena’s books so far. I also always enjoy her messages of living with a compassionate and open heart.

the bardo

loved it! Gave me insight to passing over to another life and living today with that knowledge

Finally rebirth explained

An easy to understand concept for what happens after you die. . Told with humor and compassion this makes for a nice listen.

A great talk on letting things go

Pema Choldron teaches not about the Tibetan book of the dead from the prospective of throughout your day then at the end of your life. I liked the talk because if your approach each event in your life as if you can't change it because it died it makes you stop and appreciate life more. Think about all the times you've glossed through a conversation with a loved one. then think about if they died. Next time I bet you'll pay attention!

Beautiful clear message & recording

This is a series of 3 talks by Peña Chodrön, on death, the approach to death, death itself, what happens after death according to Buddhist view - which she doesn’t force on the audience to adopt as a belief, she just shares what it is.

She answers questions on grief and other subjects from her audience in a very kind and diplomatic and informative way.

I found the concepts of the “comfort zone” and the “challenge zone” very useful: Not expecting comfort in life, knowing challenge will come, and that challenge is a teacher. Not avoiding the challenge or the feeling of challenge, and using that as a practice to increase the capacity of our nervous systems to handle challenge - all with the long game of assisting ourselves when it comes to how we approach our own deaths.

Excellently explained, easy to understand for those unfamiliar with Buddhism. Plenty of anecdotes and humor, it’s not somber at all. Recording quality is excellent, no background noise on this live recording.

Life changing

This talk is life changing. I loved listening to this - it took me on a journey to help me live even more.